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Media Summary

05/01/2016

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The Guardian, Independent i and the online edition of the Financial Times all cover an attack yesterday afternoon by Hezbollah on IDF vehicles in the Har Dov area near the Lebanese border. There were no casualties in the attack, which Hezbollah announced had been carried out by the “Samir Kuntar cell,” in apparent revenge for the death of Kuntar, a notorious terrorist who was killed in an air strike in Syria last month. Israel responded to yesterday’s attack with artillery fire across the border.

The Independent online includes a report on Israeli reactions to the shooting on Tel Aviv’s Dizengoff Street on Friday, in which two people were killed. The article says that some are comparing the attack on a bar to the Paris shootings which also targeted restaurants, bars and leisure venues.

The Independent and Independent i both cover the resignation of the United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur for Palestinian Human Rights. Makarim Wibisono has stood down from the post, claiming that Israel had denied him access to the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Israel regards the position as inherently biased, with a mandate which has produced a track record of one-sided reporting.

The Guardian, Telegraph, Financial Times, Independent and Independent i all report on the intensified tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia, following the execution of a Shia cleric by the Saudi authorities. Bahrain, Sudan and the United Arab Emirates all cut ties yesterday with Tehran, following attacks on the Saudi embassy and other missions in Iran.

In the Israeli media, both Yedioth Ahronot and Ma’ariv continue to lead on the ongoing manhunt for the gunman of Friday’s shooting attack in Tel Aviv. Israel Hayom leads with a plea from the terrorist’s father for his son to turn himself in.  However, Channel 2 News reported this morning that the father has also been detained for questioning.   Yedioth Ahronot prominently covers the comment of ministers Naftali Bennett and Gilad Erdan who, in an effort to calm the fears of parents in Tel Aviv, stated that ‘more people die in road accidents’.

Meanwhile Israel Radio reports on a second manhunt underway this morning after security officials received information an East Jerusalem resident planning an attack in Herzliya.  Haaretz also reports a soldier is lightly wounded after being stabbed this morning in Gush Etzion.

All the papers note the tension in the north following the attack by Hezbollah yesterday against IDF forces on the Lebanese border.  Israel Radio reports on instructions by IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gadi Eisenkot to continue the state of alert on the northern front, even though the general assessment is Hezbollah is not looking for an escalation at this time. Yedioth Ahronot asks if the bomb placed yesterday is enough to placate the desired revenge following the assassination of Samir Kuntar. Alongside coverage of the attack, Israel Hayom also covers visitors to Mount Hermon enjoying skiing in the first snow of the season.

In other news Israel Hayom highlights the continued alertness of the police that prevented another stabbing attack in Jerusalem yesterday.  Haaretz cover the Security Cabinet discussions over the future of the Palestinian Authority.   Ma’ariv notes the Prime Minister’s wife has been questioned by the police for a second time regarding allegations of misuse of state funds.